Whether it’s AV, VR, PS5s, or any other inventive acronyms, the world of technology never sits still so trying to keep your finger on the pulse can be a challenge.
That’s why we’ve cut through the noise to bring you the essentials. From homeware to hi-fi, this is everything you need to take your tech game ahead of the curve for 2023.
VR: Stepping into new worlds
Maxim Hopman
VR has come a long way since the 1830s – when the combination of two photographs to form a 3D image (known as stereopsis) was coined – with each year bringing slimmer headsets, grander specs, and new industry players.
Fortunately, this also means the playing field is much more diverse. For console players, the Sony PlayStation VR still leads the way for stepping into new worlds without a PC whereas the Oculus Quest 2 provides an untethered experience and competitive resolution, all for a reasonable price tag.
Oculus also offers a wealth of business support solutions ranging from virtual meetings, design and graphic work, manufacturing processes, and plenty more that take novelty to necessity.
Consoles: Playing the waiting game
The next generation of gaming remains a difficult realm to break into, with supply shortages still affecting both Sony and Microsoft powerhouses for their latest flagship consoles, two years after their launch. The lack of supply has become so notorious that leading media titles still report daily updates on “Where to buy a PS5” to this day.
Our advice for 2023? Simple: get on as many waiting lists as possible.
Be it Amazon, Game, Argos, Very or any other retailer, there’s simply no better way to assure yourself a slot at buying the best way to play incredible titles like Elden Ring and Horizon Forbidden West without paying inflated prices from third-party sellers.
Laptops: Business class edition
Buying a new business laptop can be a bit of a minefield. RAM, SSDs, integrated graphics, resolution, storage, connectivity – they’re the specs that turn what seems like a simple task into a long night of head scratching.
If you’re after a reliable all-rounder, it’s hard to go wrong with the Dell Latitude 7420’s excellent portability and processing power whereas its 5430 Rugged counterpart is ideal for the outdoors and harsh environments.
If, however, you’re more artistically inclined, the HP ZBook Studio G8 stands tall above the competition with a gorgeous 4K display, beefy graphics card, and plenty of performance to handle demanding creative software.
Check out this handy guide for a further breakdown!
Analog Audio: Back to the future
Travis Yewell
The cobwebs have been dusted off from what once was considered ‘vintage’ audio as hi-fi turntables stage an admirable comeback, with vinyl outselling all physical entertainment (bar Nintendo Switch games) in the UK this year!
If this is your first dive into analogue audio, there are a few things to be aware of to get your rig on its way – this article gives a great structured breakdown on the basics.
The turntable forms the heart of the setup so choosing the right one for you is always step one.
Here are a few suggested options for every shade of audiophile:
• For the budget turntable: Victrola Journey
• For the beginners: Audio-Technica AT-LP60X
• For the advanced: Pro-Ject Debut Pro
• For the ‘price is not an object’: Rega Planar 6/Ania
Full-fibre broadband: Your new year’s resolution
No matter if you’re upgrading for the home office or just wanting to buy that new ‘toy’, there’s no denying that you cannot be ready for 2023 without competitive, full-fibre broadband.
The advance of technology is unstoppable and as such, the demand for faster, more reliable connections is higher than ever. With that in mind, it simply isn’t feasible to rely on the Superfast, or Fibre-To-The-Cabinet, connections most of us use due to their reliance on Victorian copper cables that can’t deliver speeds that the modern tech age demands.
Learn more about our commitment to providing full-fibre broadband to half a million homes and businesses by 2027.
